Released on April 6, 2017
Wall Made Case for Free Trade with New Administration and U.S. LegislatorsPremier Brad Wall today concluded his trade mission to Washington, D.C. where he promoted the continuation of a strong trade relationship and free trade between Canada and the U.S. as a benefit to both countries.
“Saskatchewan is an exporting province, so it's important to be down here making the case for free trade, especially at a time that the new administration is looking at re-opening NAFTA,” Wall said. “Thousands of jobs in both countries are dependent on trade between our two countries, and those jobs are threatened by any new trade barriers.”
Wall said everyone he met with understood the importance of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship.
“While it probably makes sense to update NAFTA, which is now nearly 25 years old, I am confident that everyone wants to do so in a way that protects the unique trade relationship between our two countries and the jobs it creates,” Wall said. “That said, Canada cannot be complacent about the future of our trade relationship with the U.S., and Canadian officials at both the provincial and federal levels need to be continuously engaging with U.S. leaders on this and other important issues.”
Wall discussed a number of specific trade issues important to Saskatchewan: country of origin labelling, the need for a new softwood lumber agreement and the goal of North American energy independence. He also promoted Saskatchewan's clean coal technology.
Wall met with numerous elected officials and members of the new administration during the three day mission, including:
• Secretary of Energy Rick Perry
• Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt
• White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney
• Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere John Melle
• Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
• Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)
• Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
• Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
• Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Senator Steve Daines (R-MT)
• Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
• Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)
• House of Representatives Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
• Representative Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
• Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL)
• Representative Trey Gowdy (R-SC)
• Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton
Wall also made a keynote address and took part in a panel discussion on trade at the Heritage Foundation.
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927